For your money, you can't do any better than Grado's SR60e. The third-generation of the Brooklyn, NY-based company's Prestige Series is its best and most refined yet.

The SR60e in particular is a smart choice if you're looking for an entry-level set of headphones that sounds like it should cost you way more than it does.

Their open-backed ear cup design makes them a more breathable experience than what most on-ear headphones can deliver, although this does mean that they're not ideal for use in loud environments where sound can 'leak' in and disrupt your listening.

That said, in terms of pure sound quality, they're our gold-standard when it comes to on-ears.

(Our review is for the SR60i, but the newer SR60e headphones are largely similar in design and performance)

While the original Plattan headphones were just fine, Urbanears wasn’t satisfied with being mediocre. The company took customer feedback to heart and addressed many complaints about comfort, sound quality and isolation. For the most part, Urbanears succeeded, making the headphone a great value buy.

The ability to fold up the headphones into a small package make them easy to transport in your backpack or purse and Urbanears’ decision to go with a thicker ear pad means you’ll be able to listen for hours without painful pressure on your head.

They may not have the best soundstage, but the Urbanears Plattan II are a great value for those looking for a fun sounding pair and stylish pair of headphones that won’t break the bank.

Our top rated wireless on-ear headphones, the Plantronics BackBeat Sense, are a home run on nearly all accounts. The design yields comfort and appeal. Their sound performance, battery life and features all deliver without a hitch.

Usually, there are a few things that we'd like to see fixed in a set of headphones. In the case of the BackBeat Sense, we wish that the ear cups could fold into the headband to be ultra-portable ... but for a set of headphones that gets so much right, we can't nitpick.

These cans are worth every penny for someone looking to leap for a classy-looking set of wireless headphones.

While the BackBeat Sense above offer great wireless performance, the AKG N60NC go a step further with active noise cancellation, and they do it very well indeed.

If you're browsing this list then we're willing to bet you've already decided that you want a pair of on-ear rather than over-ear headphones.

This more or less makes our main complaint about the AKG N60NC Wireless headphones, namely that they sit 'on' rather than 'over' the ear, redundant.

With that choice made you can focus on the benefits of this form-factor, which makes these headphones beautifully compact and stylish.

But beyond this these are a great performing pair of headphones, with sound quality and noise-cancelling performance that is far better than you'd usually expect from a pair of headphones at this mid-range price point.

Their premium price prevents them from rising further up this list, but if you want a pair of on-ear headphones that does it all then you'd do well to give them a listen.

You, like everyone else, probably wants a set of headphones that nails the tricky blend of design, useful features and incredible sound. You might think that you need to flush your savings to enjoy such a pair of cans. Protip: you don't.

The Noontec Zoro II Wireless offer a warm and fun sound signature. With a 35-hour battery life and multipoint Bluetooth, these headphones offer an impressive value against more expensive competition.

The Samsung Level On Pro Wireless are one of the few headphones we've tested that feel like they're meant as a package deal for another device. Yes they'll work with every Bluetooth and 3.5mm jack-equipped device on the market, but you're better off sticking to a Samsung device in order to squeeze every ounce of aural goodness from the UHQ audio codec.

But it's one of the comfiest pair of cans on the market, and one of the best noise-canceling, too. If it had a better sound quality for the vast majority of cell phone users it would be an easy recommendation but it really makes the most sense at checkout when purchased alongside Samsung's Next Big Thing.

If you can afford the steep price, the Master & Dynamic MW50 will not disappoint. These headphones are a simply work of art and feel every bit as expensive as their price commands. They sound great with all types of music and are one of the most comfortable on-ear headphones we’ve ever tested. Those looking for value, however, will want to look elsewhere.

The Klipsch Reference On-Ear II is the follow up to the previous year’s excellent Reference On-Ear model, a previous resident of this list. Admittedly, this year's model doesn’t change much in terms of design or sound – but why fix something that’s not broken?

That said, Klipsch kept it simple with the Reference On-Ear II, concentrating on sound, comfort and portability that will please audiophiles. Only diehard audiophiles will even consider this wired-only headphone after looking at the price tag, but those who value sound and comfort above all else will be happy with the Klipsch Reference On Ear II.

While the Samsung Level On Pro Wireless are best paired with a Samsung Phone, the Beats Solo 3 Wireless come into their own when paired with an iOS device thanks to its W1 chip that makes for excellent wireless connectivity.

At first glance, the Solo 3 Wireless appear almost identical to the Solo 2 headphones that proceeded them. The majority of the changes Apple made to its class-leading cans come internally, baking its mobile phone know-how into these headphones to ramp-up their wireless skills and maximise battery life.

In terms of wireless performance, these $299 (£249/AU$399.95) headphones are as reliable as any out there. However, you can get significantly better sound quality at the price. (See: entries one through nine.)